Ear protector



Feb. 14, 1967 O.V.WESSELS 3,303,514

EAR PROTECTOR 7 Filed Sept. 13, 1965 k M M FIG.2

INVENTOR OLA V WESSELS AGENT United States Patent Office 3,303,514 Patented Feb. 14, 1967 This invention relates to an ear protector, and more particularly to a device for protecting a persons ears while having the hair treated, as by sprays, shampoos, etc., or when one is in a shower.

In some cases, when one has his or her hair shampooed', or otherwise treated, water or other fluid may enter the ear canal and cause discomfort. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a protector or shield to shield both ears against try of fluid into an ear canal during hair or scalp treatment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a unitary device which fits over and protects both ears.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of novel means of retaining the ear protecting device in place.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a waterproof or water repellant ear shield in the form of an arcuate trough of flexible material having a filar element of elastomeric material incorporated in the margin thereof.

These and other objects will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which like parts are indicated by like characters of reference throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the shield, shown as a trough;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the shield in position over the users ears and chin;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the shield.

The numeral indicates the shield as a whole. The shield 10 is a trough of generally arcuate form as shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3. The shield 10 is formed of a flat blank having somewhat barrel-shaped ends and concave sides. The material may be any of a large number of suitable plastic fabrics, or may be a textile fabric treated to be waterproof or water repellant.

To form the shield, a ring of elastomeric material, such as a rubber strand 12 is placed on the blank 14, and the fabric of the blank 14 is turned over to form a hem 16 enclosing the resilient elastomeric band 12. The hem 16 may be stitched or cemented, the only requirement being that the fabric 14 at the hem 16 be puckered, as shown at 18, so that the margin 20 may stretch when the shield 10 is in use.

As can be seeen in FIG. 2, the rubber strand 12 is of less length than the hem formed in the periphery of the blank so that the hem is puckered to produce a trough having enlarged pockets at the opposite ends. In plan view the constricted opening outlined by the puckered portion is located centrally of the body portion.

In use the ends 22 and 24 are placed over the users ears as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the trough is brought under the users chin. The elasticity of the band 12 is suflicient to hold the shield in place and cause it to hug the users face with suflicient pressure to prevent leakage of fluids into an ear canal.

Having described my invention in a preferred form, I desire it to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the skill of the art and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An ear protector for preventing entry of fluids into a users ears comprising an elongated transversely curved trough formed of a waterproof flexible fabric and having its margin formed into a hem, an elastomeric strand in said hem of less peripheral length than the hem pucken'ng said hem to form said transversely curved trough, said trough having end portions forming enlarged pocket means at opposite ends thereof to fit over the top ends of both ears of the wearer, said ear protector having a length and width such that the trough snugly and yieldably embraces the chin, side face portions and both ears of the user.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 20,834 7/1858 Ware 2206 366,788 7/ 1887 Nehemias 2206 1,772,223 8/1930 Pence 2174 2,191,325 2/1940 Skillen 2174 2,634,725 4/1953 Lo Presti 2174 X 2,700,162 1/ 1955 Fuller 2209 2,799,951 7/1957 Rogers 369 X FOREIGN PATENTS 116,127 5/1918 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

